svelte

adjective

ˈsvelt How to pronounce svelte (audio)
Definition of sveltenext
1
as in skinny
having a noticeably small amount of body fat the svelte dancer seemed to float across the stage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sophisticated
having or showing very polished and worldly manners the interior designer spoke in a low, svelte voice

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of svelte Compared to Ars’ usual diet of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids that regularly weigh more than two tons, the Seltos feels svelte by comparison. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 21 July 2026 This portable misting fan is more discreet than a spray bottle fan on a lanyard and svelte enough to slip into a purse or backpack. — Abbey Hudetz, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026 On the carpet, Delevingne stepped out in a svelte black halter-neck dress by Ralph Lauren, featuring black illusion-mesh cap sleeves. — Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 4 May 2026 Vato’s tiny storefront is austere and modern, an aesthetic that extends to the burritos themselves, which are long, lithe roll-ups with a sort of gamine appeal, svelte as a Virginia Slim. — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 3 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for svelte
Recent Examples of Synonyms for svelte
  1. skinny
  2. sophisticated
  3. slender
  4. graceful
  5. thin
  6. smooth
  7. lean
  8. suave
Adjective
  • Viard has also reconnected with Hedi Slimane, whose skinny suits for Dior famously prompted Lagerfeld to lose more than 90 pounds.
    — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Bootcut jeans are the perfect in-between for people like me who find skinny jeans too restricting and wide-leg jeans too baggy.
    — Bianca Kratky, Glamour, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of skinny
Adjective
  • Corduroy’s dusty reputation still lingers, but the material itself has become more supple, richer, and far more sophisticated in recent years.
    — John Vorwald, Robb Report, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Within premium products, there is a focus on longevity attributes in skin care and elegant, sophisticated makeup products among mature middle-class consumers.
    — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of sophisticated
Adjective
  • Description This perennial member of the Fabaceae family produces long, slender vines that climb by twining or spread horizontally along the ground.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Also new, the Venantia collection reprised the codes of the Diane design but in slender proportions, while the Apolloni line inspired by an 18th-century travel bag expanded to include a luxe leather weekender.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of slender
Adjective
  • Decor, such as in Room 210, is a graceful fusion of white wood rafters, French oak, and stone flooring.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • This beautiful retrospective volume shows a poet developing steadily, from the graceful descriptions and encoded trauma of the poems from the 1990s through the loosening music and political engagement of the books of the last ten years.
    — Craig Morgan Teicher, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of graceful
Adjective
  • BioNxt Solutions is developing a sublingual semaglutide thin-film platform and reported moving its program into active pharmaceutical development in 2026.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The launch shows that Innovera can be cut into thin strips and woven without immediately losing its structure.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of thin
Adjective
  • Finished with a smooth, domed resin overlay that gives the artwork dimension and a polished finish.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The finish is a semi-matte—smooth, satin, and shine-free—that looks looks like velvet on the lips.
    — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of smooth
Adjective
  • Canned seafood can include lean protein, essential omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DPA, potassium, vitamin B-12, vitamin D, iron and calcium, according to Michelle Dudash, RDN, author of The Low-Carb Mediterranean Cookbook.
    — Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Our staff sees it as competitive, but most lean toward the NL’s top seed moving on to the Championship Series.
    — The Athletic MLB Staff, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of lean
Adjective
  • Someone with aura is confident, cool, collected, and suave; someone without aura is insecure, cringey, or generally uncool.
    — Stephanie Kasulka, Parents, 1 Sep. 2026
  • In the first series, Bateman plays Vince, a charismatic and chaotic screw-up who reunites with his brother, suave bar owner Jake (Jude Law).
    — Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of suave

Browse Nearby Words

suzerains
svelte
svelteness
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Svelte.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/svelte. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of abscond

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All